The above picture pretty well tells the story of the unusual weather experienced at Tampa, Florida. It was the first snow in 15 years and although many truly enjoyed the fluffy stuff, the damage to the fruit and citrus crops was staggering.
The picture was taken from the Tribune in Tampa and sent to Mr. and Mrs. Ivan Michaels, 1921 Central Avenue, by their son and his wife, Mr. and Mrs. Dennis (Sharon) Michaels who live near Tarpon Springs.
Dennis is a commercial pilot and works with the Florida district of the U.S. Geological Survey. He reported two inches of snow in the Cypress Gardens and flurries in the Bahamas.
The freeze damage was not considered as bad as in 1967 and 1962.
Mr. Michaels is a native of the Tecumseh community, but settled in Nebraska City after a military career because he likes our town and its closeness to the hospital at SAC.
From Sun City.
Art Sweet writes from Sun City, Ariz., that the weather has been nice and some needed rain has fallen.
He stays in touch with Nebraska City and particularly enjoys reading the local news in the News-Press. He recalled the winter of 1936. The News-Press files showed that the mercury plunged to 14 below zero and except for two days, it stayed in the zero area for 32 consecutive days. We printed that story the other day when the mercury plunged from 15 to 20 below.
We say 15 or 20 below because it seemed everyone had a reading of some kind and they varied. The coldest we heard was -27 seven miles east on the bottoms.
He's walking with TLC.
Virg Klingsick stopped in the office the other day. He's recuperating from open heart surgery and says he's getting along fine . . . now.
Virg says he confines his exercise to short walks.
He says there are about eight people in Nebraska City who have had similar surgery. "At least I've got company."
You're looking great, Virg. Keep on walking and talking and do it with Tender Loving Care.
The Texas philosopher.
From Vern Livingston.
Avoid getting into a fuss with those who have spent most of their life quarreling. They have too much practice. It's like getting into a stinking contest with a skunk.
These "winter quarters" people and their reports on rainfall are getting me down.
Didya hear the one about Paul Sugden of Burr on a visit in Texas?
(I think this was before the Burr spur was blacktopped 'cause Paul was still wearing his five buckle overshoes).
"Don't it ever rain down here?" he asked Lester Ehlers, the transplanted Nebraska Citian.
"Yup," ole' Les said. "You recall the story of Noah and the Ark and how it rained 40 days and 40 nights."
"Sure do," saith Paul, the Burr Methodist.
"Well . . . we got a half inch then," was the reply.
The joke backfired.
Mrs. George (Judy Bebout) Spires and her brother, Bob, a student at Peru State, got all dressed for a deer hunt and armed with the proper gear, they started for the door.
Mrs. Bebout couldn't take it any longer. Her kids just have never been deer hunters, so she got the camera and snapped a picture of them all dressed for the hunt. It would be good for a later laugh, she thought . . .
A short time later the two "kids" returned with their game.
This time the laugh was on Mom and we understand they still lay it on pretty thick.
Another part of the fun came when they checked in the animal at Arbor Lodge State Park. Another hunter was complaining that he had been out for a week and hadn't bagged his game.
"How long have you been out?" he asked the Nebraska Citians.
"Oh . . . 'bout an hour and a half."
The hunter stomped out.
If you're over 40.
Dr. D.D. Stonecypher, Jr., suggests in his book on growing old, but staying young to "use it or you'll lose it."
We just wanted to add a postscript which comes from my mother-in-law:
Use your imagination on this
One voice pages us, "Why not?"
The other says, "Why bother?"